Safety device



Nov. 11, 1941. J. E. PALMER SAFETY DEVICE Filed March 22, 1941 l ghe/aINVENTOR'Z E" @66a A TTORNEYS Patented Nov. Il, i943 STATES PATENTOFFICE 2,261,940 SAFETY DEVICE .lames E. Palmer, Albany, N. Y.Application March 22, 1941, Serial No'. 384,751

1 Claim.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in signallingdevices.

l An important object of my invention is to provide a signaling deviceof the .type adapted to be mounted on automotive vehicle in advance ofthe driver that includes mirrors adapted to reflect the rays of lightprojected thereon by -a vehicle travelling at or substantially at rightangles to the direction of travel of the vehicle on which the device ismounted, the mirrors being uniquely arranged to reect the mentioned raysof light toward the driver of the vehicle as he approaches theintersection to apprise him of the fact that another vehicle is alsoapproaching the intersection.

Anotherobject of my invention is the provision of a signalling device ofthe above-mentioned character that may be mounted on a suitablestationary support located at one side of an intersection to warn thedrivers of vehicles approaching the intersection from any direction that'another vehicle is also approaching the intersection. The reflection iseffected by mirrors, as hereinabove-described, andv I have provided aunique organization wherein the mirrors are adjustable to permit thedevice, as a unit, to be installed at any particular intersectionregardless of the angle at which the highways intersect.

Still another object of my invention is the provision of a signallingdevice that will perform its duties with equal emcacy in either the dayor night time. In the day time the image of the approaching vehicle willbe reected by the mirrors and in the nighttime the light rays projectedby the head lamps of the approaching vehicle will be reflected toimmediately apprise the driver of any other vehicle approaching theintersection of its proximity.

Other objects and advantages of my invention, will be apparent duringthe course of the following description.

In the drawing, forming a part of this specication, and wherein likenumerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure 1 is a transverse, longitudinal sectional view of a deviceembodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view takenon the line 2-2 of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is an end elevation of the device looking in the direction ofthe arrows 4--4 in Figure 3, and

323 and 21,

Figure 5 is an end elevation thereof looking in the direction of thearrows 5-5 of Figure 3.

In theaccompanying drawing, wherein for the purpose of illustration, isshown a preferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral I0 designatesa housing adapted to accommodate the reflective mirrors II and I2. Thehousing comprises vertically spaced parallel top and bottom walls I3 andI4 held in-xed association with each other by the front and rear wallsI5 and I6. The end walls I'I and I8 extend through vertical slots I9 inthe front and rear walls and the upper and lower edges thereof areslidably received within the grooves 20 in the confronting faces of thementioned top and bottom wall. Each of the end walls Il and I8 isprovided with an essentially large opening 2| and 22, respectively,through which rays of light are admitted into the housing and each ofthe end walls may be securely held in a selected adjusted position bythe set screws 23 extending through the ends of the rear Wall I6.

The mirrors II and I2 have the forward vertical edges thereof pivotallyconnected to the front wall I5 of the housing by suitable hingeconnections 24 and 2'5. As best illustrated in Figure 1, the hinges areVlocated adjacent the end walls I'I and I8 and the mirrors extendangularly inwardly and rearwardly whereby the light rays entering theopenings 2| land 22 will be reflected through the openings 26 and 2l inthe rear wall f I6. Tubes 28 and 29 are fitted into the openings and theends of the tubes projecting beyond the housing being ared outwardly topermit observation through the tubes of objects reflected in themirrors. I prefer that the last-mentioned endsy of the tubes be inclinedangularly inwardly to permit the person facing the rear wall to betterobserve the reflections as will be readily understood. Each of themirrors is provided with a peripheral frame 3| and 32 and each of theframes is provided at the lower inner corner thereof with a projectinglug 33 which carries a set screw 34 having the projecting end thereofseating within a selected one of the sockets 35 formed in the bottomwall of the housing.

Figure 1 best illustrates the manner in which the mirrors may beadjusted to properly reflect the light rays entering the end-openings 2land 22 from varying directions;l It is a fundamental rule of physicsthat the angle of reflection is equal to the angle of4 incidence and,therefore, if the mirrors are arranged at an angle* of 45 the inner endsof -the tube being flared* Vthrough the tubes to the front and rearwalls of the housing. Thus, the mirrors may be placed in any selectedadjusted position to properly light rays travelling in. a, directionparallel with the front and rear .-walls of the housing will bereiiected through the openings 26 and 21 in a direction normal to thefront and rear Walls. Similarly, if the swinging ends of the mirrors aremoved in the direction of the rear wall I6, rays of .light projectedangularly rearwardly through the end openings will impinge against themirrors and be reflected through the tubes 2B and 29 in a directionnormal to the front and rear walls. Also, if the swinging ends of themirrors are moved in a direction away from the rear wall of the housing,rays of light projected angularly forwardly through the end openings 2land 22 will impinge against theI mirrorsI and be reflected 28 and 29 ina direction normal reflect rays of light entering the housing from anydesired direction. Let us assume that the housing is mounted on anautomotive vehicle forwardly of the driver. As hereinabove stated, animportant object of the invention. is to apprise the driver of thevehicle approaching an intersection that another ear -moving in adirection at right angles to his direction of travel is also approachingthe intersection. It is desirable that the driver be warned of this factas soon as possible before he enters the intersection in order that themargin of safety be materially increased. If the view of the driver isobstructed, as by a clump of trees or a high bank, the light raysprojected by the head lamp of the other vehicle will enter one of theend openings 2| or 22 in the housing and be reiiected throughtherespective opening 26 or 21. This action will cause the light rays tobe reflected in the direction of the driver in a manner to immediatelyapprise him of the fact that the other vehicle is approaching theintersection. Obviously, if the above happening occurs in the day timewhen neither of the vehicles are using .their head lamps, the image ofthe approaching vehicle will be reflected in one of the mirrors toimmediately apprise the driver of the fact that this vehicle isapproaching the intersection. It is important to note that thisreflection may be seen by the driver substantially in advance of the.time when the two vehicles would move to a relative position permittingeach to see the other in the conventional manner. This difference intime would, in all probability, give the driver sufiicient warning topermit him to apply his brakes or otherwise act to avoid a collision atthe intersection. The additional time thus provided is particularlyvaluable in situationswhere the roads intersect at a relatively sharpangle and Where a clear view between the roads is obstructed. Where thevehicles approach the intersection in acute angular relation with eachother, it is often extremely difficult for either driver to ascertainthe proximity of the other. If, however, either or both of the vehiclesare provided with the safety device herein-above described, or if thedevice is mounted on a support located at the juncture of the roads, allpossibility of collision will be avoided.

If the housing is permanently located at the intersection, it may bemounted on 4any suitable support and the mirrors permanently adjusted sothat rays .of light projected by the head lamps of vehicles approachingthe intersection on either road will reflect in the mirrors and beprojected down the other of the roads vto immediately apprise the driverof one vehicle of the fact that another vehicle is approaching theintersection.

The device may also be used to advantage at railroad crossings whereconditions are such that the driver approaching the from seeing ineither direction along the track. The above condition may arise where ahigh bank or growing shrubbery obstructsthe visionof the driver or underany condition where the track and highway approach each other in such amanner that the driver of a vehicle traversing the highway may not seefor any substantial distance along the track. Under these conditions,the housing may be mounted to reflect the light rays or image of a trainin the direction of the driver of theA vehicle and the housing may beuniquely mounted to permit the driver to be apprised of the approachingtrain when he is yet a substantial distance from the crossing.

In certain localities it may be desirablethat lenses 36 be provided inthe tubes 28 and 29. If desired, these lenses may be suitably tinted toavoid glare. f

Also, the openings 2i and 22 may be of a different size and shape, asillustrated in Figures 4 and 5. In Figure 4, the opening 2l isillustrated as being of essentially square formation and in Figure 5 theopening 22 is illustrated as being of essentially circular formation.When this construction is used, both the' openings 26 and 21 and thetubes 28 and 29 are preferably of a shape similar to the shape of theirrespective opening 2i or 22, and these diierentially shaped openingspermit the driver of the vehicle to immediately ascertain the directionfrom which the vehicle ortrain is' approaching the intersection.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewithV shownand described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, vmdthat various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may beresorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or scopeof the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A'signalling device comprising a housing having an aperture in the rearwall adjacent each end thereof and movable end walls adjustabletransversely of the front and rear walls, means. for holding the endwalls in a selected adjusted position, a reflector arranged within thehousing adjacent each end-thereof, each of said reflectors being mountedfor pivotal movement about a vertical axis and being adapted to reflectrays of light entering the housing through one of the apertures in theside wall through a respective one of the apertures in the rear wall andmeans for holding each of the reflectors in 'a selected adjustedposition.A

JAMES E. PALMER.

crossing is prevented-

